On June 3, 2010, Bill 68, the Open For Business Act, 2010, carried at Second Reading and was Ordered referred to the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs. As previously reported, Bill 68 is omnibus legislation that would amend Ontario’s Employment Standards Act, 2000 to allow the Director of Employment Standards to require claimants…
Industry: Education
An Educator’s Guide to Special Education Law, Second Edition
This book provides a complete and comprehensive account of the legal and administrative issues arising from the special education process. It details changes to the Ontario Human Rights Code and the Education Act and how the changes impact upon educators. It also updates case law generated by the courts, the Special Education Tribunal and the…
Ontario Releases Independent Review of AODA
On May 31, 2010, the government released Charles Beer’s independent review of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005. The government also announced that it is in the process of combining the information and communications, employment and transportation standards into a single, integrated regulation. This initiative is intended to make them “more flexible” for…
School Board Update – ETFO Organizing Campaign
As you know, the Ministry of Education’s Early Learning Program requires boards to hire designated early childhood educators (“DECEs”) to work alongside teachers in delivering the Program to junior kindergarten and kindergarten pupils. The Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (“ETFO”) has recently made it clear that it will seek to represent the designated early childhood…
Federal Amendments to PIPEDA Introduced
On May 25, 2010, the federal government introduced two Bills that, if passed, would significantly amend PIPEDA: Bill C-29, the Safeguarding Canadians’ Personal Information Act and Bill C-28, the Fighting Internet and Wireless Spam Act. Bill C-29 would: specify the elements of valid consent for the collection, use or disclosure of personal information; permit the…
New Teacher Qualification Regulations
On May 20, 2010, the government filed the following new regulation under the Ontario College of Teachers Act, 1996: O. Reg. 176/10, which outlines the requirements for obtaining a certificate of qualification and registration. With certain exceptions, the Regulation is now in force. O. Reg. 182/10, which outlines amendments to O. Reg. 347/02 (the accreditation…
New Education Act Regulations
On May 20, 2010, the Ontario government filed the following Regulations under the Education Act: O. Reg. 180/10 (Supervisory Officers), in part clarifying the definition of “acceptable post-secondary degree” for the purposes of s. 1(1) of Regulation 309 of R.R.O. 1990; O. Reg. 183/10 (Operation of Schools), dealing with the assignment or appointment of teachers…
Department of Finance Proposes Changes to HST Calculation Rules Affecting Investment Funds
On May 19, 2010, the Department of Finance released proposed changes to the Harmonized Sales Tax (“HST”) rules covering the supply of financial services relating to the calculation of the provincial component of the HST under the Excise Tax Act. As outlined in the government Backgrounder, the proposed changes would affect, among others, mutual funds,…
Ontario’s Pension Reform Legislation Receives Royal Assent
On May 18, 2010, Bill 236, the Pension Benefits Amendment Act, 2010 received Royal Assent. A number of the Bill 236 amendments are now in force, while others will come into force later this year. Supporting regulations are also expected to be introduced. As previously reported, Bill 236 carried at Third Reading on May 5,…
Ontario’s Wage Freeze Bill Passes Third Reading, Receives Royal Assent
On May 18, 2010, Bill 16, the Creating the Foundation for Jobs and Growth Act, 2010 carried at Third Reading and received Royal Assent. As previously reported, Bill 16 was reported as amended by the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs on May 6, 2010. Originally introduced on March 26, 2010, the Bill is omnibus…